Garden Palace Fire, 1882

6 10 82

My dear Walker

I send you some

papers in reference to the

Garden Palace. Sir

John had them in connection

with a recent debate in

the House. I think

they properly belong to

the Col Secretarys Dept

Yours faithfully

Charles Oliver

Critchett Walker Esquire
The Colonial Architect to the Principal Under Secretary reporting destruction of the Garden Palace by Fire

82/6815                        Department of Public Works

25 Sept                         Colonial Architects Office

Sydney 23rd September 1882

Read

23.9.82

Sir,

It is my painful duty

to report that on yesterday

morning at about twenty

minutes to six oclock, a

fire broke out in the Garden

Palace, resulting in the

total destruction of that

building and its contents

the fire spreading with such

rapidity

The Principal

Under Secretary
rapidity that in forty minute,

from its commencement nothing

remained but a mass of

smouldering ruins.

2.     In reporting this calamitous

event, I do myself the honor

to give the particulars of the

occurrence as furnished by F.

Kirchen, the night watch man

and J. Mcknight the caretaker

to my officer, Mr Simpson

employed in attending to

works required in and about

the building.

Kirchen the night watchman

stated that he went on duty

the previous evening at 5.45

and remained on duty the

whole

whole of the night, during which

time he was visited three times

by Police Constables McVane and

Day – the last visit being at

5.15am, the constables named

were in the building as far

as the fountain – they remained

two or three minutes, and then

walked towards the West entrance

and left about 5.30am – the

constables had only left him

two or three minutes, when he

had to let Mcknight the caretaker

in at the gates – this was about

25 minutes to 6 oclock – they both

went towards the western Entrance

and while doing so, observed smoke

issuing from the building – they

then ran towards the fire cocks

in

in the west transept, connected

the hose and applied the

water to where the smoke was

coming up the well hole of the

fountain in dense masses – they

as well connected a second

length of hose a(nd) turned to get

down the staircase of the

dome, but were driven back,

and had to abandon the hose

and branch director, the fire

was so great – they then ran

to the Telephone, and at the same

time commenced ringing the

large Bell at the west entrance

by this time they were driven

out of the building, and nothing

could save it – Kirchen also

states that he was in the

basement four times during

the night, the last time

about
about a quarter to five oclock

and returned from the basement

by the north tower staircase

without noticing any smell of

fire, or anything to cause

alarm – he then went along

the north nave, and west

transept, to the west door to

let in the two constables, and

did not detect anything to

excite his curiosity during the

night, he added that assistance

came in about a quarter of

an hour from the time the

fire was first noticed, but

assistance was of no avail

The particulars given by

Mcknight the Caretaker respecting

relieving the night watchman

when
when the fire was first noticed

and what was done by both

are similar to those given by

Kirchen the night watchman

I may state that I was

at the scene of the fire before

seven oclock, but the building

was at that time in ruins.

All information that can

be obtained as to the origin

of the fire will no doubt be

elicited at the enquiry

that will be made by the

Coroner.

I have the honor to be

Sir

Your Obedient Servant

James Barnet

Col Archt

[PAGE 1]
82/1325                                  Department of Public Works
Railway branch,
Engineer-in-Chief’s Office,
Sydney 25th Septr 1882
Minute Paper
Subject:- Forwarding copy of the Engineer-
in-charge of Trial Surveys’
Report on destruction of
Railway Plan, etc, by fire
at the Garden Palace, 22nd inst.
I have the honour to
forward for the information
of the Minister for Public
Works a copy of Mr Herbert
Palmer’s report relative to
the destruction by fire of
Railway Plans, Sections, etc,
etc, at the Garden Palace
on the 22nd instant.
John ??
[PAGE 2]
COPY
September 22, 1882
The Engineer-in-Chief for railways
Sir,
I have the honour to report that
the following Plans & Sections, and
Field Books, and all other documents
(as far as I can recollect) connected
with the various extensions of the
Railway, have been destroyed thought
the burning of the Garden Palace.
All Working Plans, Sections,
Filed, and Level Books, Proclaimed
Plans as far as plotted, Cross
Sections, and all other data con-
nected with the final surveys
of the following Extensions:
Homebush to Waratah
Orange to near Parkes
Cootamundra to Gundagai
Blaney to Carcoar, & towards Cooma
Bungendore towards Cooma
From 24th Mile on Illawarra
Railway towards Kiama
Young towards Cowra.
Also, the whole of the Plans and
Sections, and Field Books, etc, of all
the Trial (?) Surveys that have been
made since I took charge of the
Trial Survey branch in 1874.
The Working Plans and
Sections of the Narrandera and
Jerilderie
[PAGE 3]
Jerilderie Extension were in the
Public Works Offices, and have
consequently been saved, and
there are Lithographs of the
Working Plans and Sections of
the following Contracts
Glen Innes to Tenterfield
Goulburn to Bungendore
Murrumburrah to Young
Macdonaldtown to 24th Mile (Illawarra line)
The proclaimed Plans of the list above,
with the exception of the Murrumburrah
and Young Extension, have been de-
stroyed but copies of the Glen Innes
and Tenterfield, Murrumburrah and
Young, and Illawarra line, have been
deposited in the various District Police
Offices.
The List attached shews the
different Plans, etc, which are usually
kept in your office, but which at the
time of the fire were in use in my
office, and were destroyed.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) Herbert Palmer
[FOLLOWS A LIST PLANS AND SECTIONS WHICH WERE AT THE GARDEN PALACE – NOT TRANSCRIBED]